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OMAHA AMONG 33 CITIES WORLDWIDE TO RECEIVE IBM SMARTER CITIES CHALLENGE GRANT

March 15, 2012
Announcements, Featured
Mayor Jim Suttle, David Harvey of IBM Omaha, Mayor's Assistant Grant Administrator Alec Gorynski, and Multiple Community Partners Announce Omaha's Award of the IBM Smarter Cities Grant

Mayor Jim Suttle, David Harvey of IBM Omaha, Mayor's Assistant Grant Administrator Alec Gorynski, and Multiple Community Partners Announce Omaha's Award of the IBM Smarter Cities Grant

March 15, 2012,- Mayor Jim Suttle announced today that the City of Omaha was selected to receive an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant. The grant gives city leaders access to IBM’s business experts who will analyze and recommend ways Omaha can improve its economy though sustainable development and become an even better place to live and work.

The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a competitive grant program in which IBM is awarding a total of $50 million worth of technology and services to 100 municipalities worldwide through 2013. Omaha was one of 8 U.S. cities and 33 cities worldwide chosen this year to work with IBM experts who will provide analysis and recommendations on how the community can achieve successful growth, better delivery of municipal services, more citizen engagement, and improved efficiency.

IBM selected cities that made the strongest case for participating in the Smarter Cities Challenge. During these engagements, IBM technical experts, researchers and consultants immerse themselves in local issues and offer a range of options and recommended next-steps. Among the issues they examine are healthcare, education, safety, social services, transportation, sustainability, budget management and energy. The City of Omaha will work with a grant-funded IBM team on ways of improving our economy through sustainable community development.

“The cities that have been selected are all different, but they had one clear similarity: the strong personal commitment by the city’s leadership to put in place the changes needed to help the city make smarter decisions,” said Stanley S. Litow, IBM vice president of Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, and President of IBM’s International Foundation. “These cities demonstrated a desire to set an example for other municipalities, an eagerness to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, and a strong commitment to consider implementing recommendations the city felt would be the most feasible and beneficial to their residents.”

IBM’s consultants and technology specialists will help municipalities prioritize their needs, review strengths and weaknesses, and learn from the successful strategies used by other cities worldwide. After studying the role that intelligent technology might play in uniting and advancing different aspects of city life, IBM then outlines a range of concrete strategies designed to help make cities healthier, safer, smarter, more prosperous, and attractive to current and prospective residents and businesses.

A consistent theme in these projects is the collecting, sharing, analyzing and acting on data generated by urban interactions and transactions. Such information can include everything from school test scores, smartphone adoption, crime statistics, foot and vehicle traffic, to tax revenue and library usage. Correlations are then made that link seemingly unrelated aspects of urban life to develop innovative and cost effective strategies to address persistent challenges.

“We have made progress in stabilizing our economy but this kind of assistance from experts at IBM, will allow us to really tap into more innovative way we can meet the needs of the citizens we serve,” said Mayor Suttle. “It is exciting to be given this opportunity. We look forward to working with the team of experts from IBM and thank them for selecting Omaha.”.

Mayor Suttle’s Statement on the Passage of Omaha’s Equal Employment Ordinance

March 13, 2012
Announcements

March 13, 2012 - I applaud the City Council for their actions today and I look forward to signing this ordinance into law. I want to thank Councilman Ben Gray for his dedication and leadership in bringing this action forward, not once but twice, and for working with community leaders and his colleagues on the Council to find consensus for a final ordinance.

Omaha is a city that welcomes diversity, embraces fresh ideas, and is open for business to everyone. Allowing discrimination in our city is wrong-for our citizens and our businesses. With a robust local economy and an increasingly talented workforce, Omaha is well positioned to be one of the most vibrant and innovative cities of the 21st Century. However, in order to compete against similarly sized cities and attract talented workers to Omaha, we must make it clear that our doors are open to individuals of all backgrounds.

Omaha is famous for being a welcoming city that loves its neighbors and treats them with respect. By passing this ordinance, the City Council has made official what I’ve known all along-that Omaha is a city open to everyone.

Mayor Suttle, Papio-Missouri River NRD Announce $2 Million in Levy Repairs

March 9, 2012
Announcements

March 9, 2012 - Today, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle joined representatives from the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board (NRD) in announcing a $2 Million contribution from the NRD towards the improvement, and recertification by FEMA, of Omaha’s levee system.

The $2 Million contribution, which is in addition to the $15 Million pledged for repairs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be used to improve the City’s flood prevention infrastructure along with Missouri River.

"Omaha has emerged from the recession with one of the strongest economies in the nation," said Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle. "A strong levee system will allow Omaha to preserve its economic assets, keep our residents employed, and continue our City’s economic success."

The flood of 2011 presented many challenges to the City and the NRD, which maintains over 85 miles of levees along the Missouri and Platte Rivers which protect the Omaha Metro Area.

"The City and NRD have a strong working relationship," said Mayor Suttle. "We have a history of working together to protect our critical natural resources and will continue to do everything we can to protect our City from flooding."

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Omaha Police Chief Alex Hayes To Retire

March 5, 2012
Announcements, Public Safety

March 5, 2012: Omaha Police Chief Alex Hayes will be retiring after two and half years as head of the Police Department. The Chief, who has been with Omaha Police for more than 25 years, informed Mayor Suttle today that he would retire March 30, 2012.

“Chief Hayes has been an asset to this community and he will be greatly missed,” said Mayor Suttle. “He has set a standard for public safety that we will continue to model in his absence. We will work with the Chief and his leadership team to maintain continuity during this transition so residents can be sure that our streets and neighborhoods remain safe.”

“My decision to retire at this time was personal and was not an easy decision to make,” said Police Chief Alex Hayes. “I will be working with my staff, community leaders, and the Mayor’s office to make sure there is a smooth transition for the community at large. It has been a privilege to work for the citizens of Omaha.”
“Under Chief Hayes’ leadership the police department has embraced community policing and worked successfully to collaborate with community organizations and neighborhood associations throughout the city to lower the rate of violent crime and get illegal guns off the streets,” said Mayor Suttle. “He has done a lot to improve citizen outreach in our community and those efforts will continue.”

According to Mayor Suttle, Hayes was willing to look at internal procedural changes and the reallocation of personnel in order to make the police department more efficient in managing resources and crime in Omaha. Chief Hayes made improvements in technology, such as reestablishing cameras in cruisers and implementing the Shot Spotter system which allows officers to respond instantly to the exact location of shots fired in the city. This has assisted officers in making arrests and getting guns off the streets.

Chief Hayes also enhanced the risk management program, putting more resources in place as well as creating new checks and balances for officers, improving their ability to do their jobs more effectively, and reducing public complaints. The Omaha Police department, with Chief Hayes’ leadership, is continuing its efforts to be more transparent by working to make non-tactical police procedures available to the public.
The Mayor will appoint an acting Chief between now and March 30th.

Mayor Suttle Challenges Omaha Employers to Hire Youth for Summer Jobs and Beyond

March 1, 2012
Economic Development, Featured, In The Community
Mayor Suttle, Willie Barney of the Empowerment Network, Councilmembers Gray and Gernandt stand with a cadre of supporters of the STEP-UP Program

Mayor Suttle, Willie Barney of the Empowerment Network, Councilmembers Gray and Gernandt stand with a cadre of supporters of the STEP-UP Program

March 1, 2012 – Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, the Empowerment Network and more than 20 community partners announced a new Summer Training and Jobs Program called STEP-UP Omaha today. The Mayor’s office along with the Empowerment Network is challenging Omaha businesses and the philanthropic community to match city funding in order to provide employment opportunities for young Omahans, ages 14-24. While Omaha overall experiences a 4.4% unemployment rate, certain pockets of the city have a 25% unemployment rate.

“Employment has been a cornerstone of my efforts to do everything possible to stem violence in our community,” said Mayor Suttle. “We need to make it possible for kids to have the option of a productive future. Employment provides a structured alternative to negative activity on the streets and deters young people from the temptation of gangs and guns.”

The STEP-UP Omaha program (Summer Training Employment Pathway and Urban Pipeline), under the direction of the Empowerment Network, will receive $300,000 from the City of Omaha to be matched equally by local businesses and community partners. The goal is to reach more than $900,000 in combined funding, training and employment options for more than 500 youth this summer.

“The plan includes providing skill training as well as actual work experience for young people in our high unemployment areas,” said Willie Barney, President of the Empowerment Network. “Our City is dependent on the success of our young people, and we must make sure they have every opportunity to gain the skills necessary for a successful career.”

“Blue Cross Blue Shield supported youth summer employment last year and we are committed to partnering with the Empowerment Network, government, business leaders and community partners to expand the initiative moving forward,” said Steve Martin, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. “The program is producing measurable results.”

“We are excited to be a part of the expansion of this jobs program,” said John Kotouc, Executive Chairman of American National Bank. “The Empowerment Network has been effective with this program for the last four years. They have excellent connections to youth in the community and offer great support to employers. The youth participants are respectful and courteous. It’s wonderful to see their horizons expand as they are exposed to new work challenges.”

Starting Thursday, March 1,2012, Mayor Suttle and the Empowerment Network will be calling area businesses and the philanthropic community directly for their support in this citywide effort to employ youth in Omaha this summer and into the future.

Mayor Jim Suttle’s 2012 Neighborhood Grant Applications Now Available

March 1, 2012
Announcements, Green Initiatives, In The Community

The Mayor’s Neighborhood Grants Program is now underway! Mayor Jim Suttle has made $80,000 available for Neighborhood Grants in two categories:

  • Neighborhood Green Improvement projects
  • Neighborhood Crime Prevention projects

Neighborhood associations need to complete each of the following application documents listed below. A grant application is incomplete if it does not include all four documents. Only neighborhood associations registered with the City of Omaha are eligible to receive grant funding.

When accessing these documents, please “Save As” the documents onto your computer in order to edit and save them.

All applications are due by 4 p.m. Monday, March 26th, 2012. As Mayor Suttle stresses the value of going green, all neighborhood associations are encouraged to submit applications by email to neighborhoodgrants@ci.omaha.ne.us. Hand delivered or mailed applications will still be accepted but must be in to the Mayor’s Office by 4 p.m. March 26th. The Mayor’s Office is located at 1819 Farnam Street, Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68183. If you have any questions, please contact Tom McCauley at 444-7918 or Alec Gorynski at 444-5211.

Mayor Jim Suttle with 2011 Neighborhood Grants Award Recipients

Mayor Suttle with 2011 Mayor’s Neighborhood Grant recipients at the Hands-to-Harvest Community Garden.

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